Stinson 108-3 accident near Exmore, Virginia, November 1, 1982
On November 1, 1982 at about 7:20 pm local time, a Stinson 108-3, registered N981C, was substantially damaged in an accident near Exmore, Virginia. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 1, 1982 · about 7:20 pm local time
- Place
- Exmore, Virginia
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Stinson 108-3 · all 108-3s on the register
- Registration
- N981C · registry record · serial 61703
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING FLIGHT, THE PILOT NOTICED A DECREASE IN OIL PRESSURE AND ELECTED TO LAND AT AN ALTERNATE AIRPORT. WHILE EN ROUTE, A COMPLETE LOSS OF OIL PRESSURE OCCURRED AND THE PILOT EXECUTED AN EMERGENCY LANDING IN AN OPEN FIELD. WHILE ON THE LANDING ROLL, THE AIRCRAFT HIT A SOFT SPOT AND NOSED OVER. AN EXAMINATION OF THE ENGINE REVEALED THERE WAS A DIMPLE AND HOLE IN THE ROCKER BOX COVER OF THE NO 3 CYLINDER. A LOOSE 3/8-24 HEXAGON JAM NUT (FOR THE INTAKE ROCKER ARM ADJUSTING SCREW) WAS FOUND INSIDE THE ROCKER BOX COVER. THE HOLE AND DIMPLE IN THE ROCKER BOX COVER WERE OPPOSITE OF THE EXHAUST ROCKER ARM ADJUSTING SCREW AND MATCHED THE SIZE AND SHAPE OF THE LOOSE NUT.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 1,359 hours in all; 1,159 in this make and model; 10 in the last 90 days; 1,134 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,580 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 8 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,200 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Frnklin 6A4-165-B3 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: C Easton MD at 1:20 pm
- Destination: C Bayboro NC
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 170° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded; not recorded
- Temperature: 158°F (70°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 2 |
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The docket at the NTSB holds the report as a PDF and the investigation's photographs and documents. This site never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number ATL83LA023.